Toilet-waste breaking tool

ABSTRACT

A hand tool and related method is provided for breaking up solid waste in a toilet. The hand tool comprises a base shaft connected to a handle shaft at an angle suitable for reaching into a toilet bowl to break up solid waste thus preventing clogs. The base shaft includes a first tip, which has a rigid wing extending laterally out from the end of the base shaft.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/559,929 filed Sep. 18, 2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to preventing toilet clogs, and more specifically, to tools directed at breaking up solid waste so as to prevent toilet clogs.

BACKGROUND

Flushing solid waste in toilets can lead to clogging of the s-tube or weir dam of the toilet, or to the pipes and pathways connected thereto. Even though toilets are specifically designed to handle human waste and even though toilet paper is designed to dissipate in water, these wastes can still result in clogs due to solid clumps inadequately dissipating. An even greater likelihood of clogging exists when non-flushable waste is introduced. Non-flushable waste is waste that does not readily dissipate in the water and/or for which the toilet is not designed. For example, non-flushable waste can include paper towels or facial tissues.

Traditional toilets have had these clogging issues, and these issues have increased in frequency with the growing demand for low consumption toilets. Low consumption toilets can release less than 1.6 gallons of water per flush. Accordingly, in order to produce adequate discharging flow velocities, passages in the low consumption toilets are often made smaller therefore more prone to clogging. By way of example, some low consumption toilets have been sized for a 1½-inch ball to pass, meaning that the passages might be only 1⅝ inches in diameter (approximately ⅛ inch larger). This is in contrast to older toilet designs having 2½-inch or greater ball pass passages. Accordingly, modern low consumption toilets can have increased issues with solid waste related clogs.

In accordance with the above, there is an increasing interest in and need for apparatuses and methods that can help dissipate solid waste before they can create clogs.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one series of embodiments of the current disclosure, there is provided a hand tool for breaking up solid waste in a toilet. The tool comprises a shaft with an angle bend and a first tip on an end of the shaft. Some embodiments have a handle shaft and a base shaft connected together to form the shaft. The handle shaft has a first end and a second end. The base shaft also has a first end and a second end. The first end of the base shaft is connected to the second end of the handle shaft so that the base shaft is at an angle suitable for reaching into a toilet bowl such that the second end of the base shaft reaches at least to the junction of the toilet bowl with an s-tube. The first tip is on the second end of the base shaft. The first tip can comprise a rigid wing extending laterally out from the second end of the base shaft.

In many embodiments, the base shaft is at an angle of from 20 degrees to 80 degrees to the handle shaft, from 30 degrees to 70 degrees to the handle shaft, or from about 40 degrees to 50 degrees to the handle shaft, or about 45 degrees to the handle shaft.

In the above embodiments, the hand tool can further comprise a second tip. The second tip is composed of a rigid material and connected to the base shaft between the first end and first tip. The second tip can extend laterally out from the base shaft and can be formed to have a wedged edge. The second tip can be oriented so that the wedged edge runs parallel with the base shaft.

Further, in the above embodiments, the first tip can comprise a pair of rigid wings extending laterally out from the base shaft so as to form a hoe-type blade set at an angle of from 60 degrees to 120 degrees to the base shaft, or from 70 degrees to 110 degrees to the base shaft, or from 80 to 100 degrees to the base shaft, or at about 90 degrees to the base shaft.

In many embodiments, the handle shaft includes a hand-gripping portion at the first end of the handle shaft.

Generally, the handle shaft and base shaft of the above embodiments are made of metal, often aluminum. Also, the first tip and second tip are made of a rigid plastic, and the hand-gripping portion is made of a flexible plastic. Further, the embodiments can include a connector portion configured to receive the second end of the handle shaft and the first end of the base shaft and to hold the base shaft at the angle to the base shaft. The connector portion can be made of rigid plastic.

Embodiments can include a storage base having a body defining a cavity with an aperture in a top portion of the body. The aperture is configured to allow introduction of the hand tool into the cavity. The body has a first angled wall and two sidewalls with the two sidewalls opposing each other. A first portion of the cavity is defined by the first angled wall and the two sidewalls. The first angled wall declines at a decline angle to match the angle of the base shaft to the handle shaft so that, when the hand tool is introduced into the cavity, the handle shaft extends upwardly.

In accordance with another series of embodiments of the current disclosure, there is provided a process comprising the steps of:

-   -   (a) introducing a hand tool into a toilet having a toilet bowl         terminating in an s-tube, wherein the toilet bowl contains solid         waste, wherein the hand tool comprises:         -   a shaft having a first end and a second end; wherein said             shaft has an angled bend suitable to allow said second end             to reach into the toilet bowl such that the second end of             the base shaft reaches to the junction of the toilet bowl             with the s-tube, wherein the angled bend is from 20 degrees             to 80 degrees; and         -   a first tip on the second end of the base shaft, wherein the             tip comprises a rigid wing extending laterally out from the             second end of the base shaft; and wherein the first tip is             introduced into the toilet bowl;     -   (b) breaking up the solid waste by manipulating the hand tool so         that the first tip encounters solid waste in the toilet bowl and         a junction between the toilet bowl and the s-tube; and     -   (c) after step (b) removing the hand tool from the toilet bowl         and flushing the toilet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a hand tool in accordance with this disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a first tip for the hand tool illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the first tip for the hand tool illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of a second tip for the hand tool illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a hand tool and a base for storing the hand tool according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a sectional side view of the hand tool of FIG. 5 stored in the base.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a typical toilet, with only relevant bowl passages illustrated for the sake of simplicity of the disclosure. A hand tool in accordance with this disclosure is illustrated in operative association with the toilet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the description that follows, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same reference numerals, respectively. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts have been exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the invention. In the following description, the terms “inwardly” and “outwardly” are directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric axis of a referenced object. Where components of relatively well-known designs are employed, their structure and operation will not be described in detail.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a hand tool for breaking up solid waste in a toilet in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. As illustrated, hand tool 10 comprises a handle shaft 12 connected to a base shaft 18. While the two shafts can be connected by any suitable means or integrally formed or molded as a single unit, the current embodiment utilizes a connector 24 to connect handle shaft 12 to base shaft 18. Connector 24 is an angular connection tube having a first open end 26 adapted to receive second or lower end 16 of handle shaft 12. Connector 24 also has a second open end 28 adapted to receive a first or upper end 20 of base shaft 18. The ends of the shafts are secured within the open ends of connector 24 so as to prevent them from disengaging from connector 24. The ends can be secured in the open ends of connector 24 by screws, adhesive, or other suitable securing means.

Handle shaft 12, base shaft 18 and connector 24 can be formed from any suitable material. Presently, rigid materials, which are suitable to maintain base shaft 18 and handle shaft 12 in their relative positions during use, are preferred. For example, handle shaft 12, base shaft 18 and connector 24 can be formed out of a rigid plastic material or from a metal. In one embodiment, handle shaft 12 and base shaft 18 are formed from metal, such as aluminum, and connector 24 is formed from a rigid plastic material.

In order to adequately reach into the interior of a toilet bowl, handle shaft 12 is connected to base shaft 18 at an angle α. This angle α can be suitable for reaching into a toilet bowl such that the second end of the base shaft reaches to the junction of the toilet bowl with a weir dam, for example a trapway passage of an s-tube as further described below. As illustrated in FIG. 1, this can be achieved by connector 24 being an angular connector. Generally, base shaft 18 can be connected to handle shaft 12 at an angle α of from about 20 degrees to about 80 degrees. More typically, from about 30 degrees to about 70 degrees to the handle shaft 12, or from about 40 degrees to about 50 degrees to the handle shaft 12, or about 45 degrees to the handle shaft 12.

Upper or first end 14 of handle shaft 12 is covered by a flexible or soft handle 30. Typically, handle 30 will be made of a non-absorbent water-resistant material that provides for a soft grip, such as rubber, latex polymer, or other suitable polymers.

Lower or second end 22 of base shaft 18 has a first tip 32, as better seen from FIGS. 2 and 3. First tip 32 is constructed of a rigid material that will not mar or scratch the toilet bowl. For example, first tip 32 can be made of a suitable rigid plastic. The plastic should be rigid enough so as to be able to break up solid waste, such as human waste (feces) or paper without bending. First tip 32 comprises one or more rigid wings 34 extending laterally out from the second end of the base shaft. In one embodiment, first tip 32 comprises a pair of rigid wings 34 extending laterally out from the base shaft 18 so as to form a hoe-type blade 36. Hoe-type blade 36 is set at an angle of from about 60 degrees to about 120 degrees to base shaft 18, or from about 70 degrees to about 110 degrees to base shaft 18, or from about 80 to about 100 degrees to the base shaft 18, or at about 90 degrees to the base shaft 18. Hoe-type blade 36 can have beveled edges 38, or can have wedge edges so as to form a sharp-wedged edge or razor edge.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, hand tool 10 can include a second tip 40 mounted on base shaft 18. Second tip 40 can be mounted adjacent to first tip 32, but more typically, second tip 40 will be mounted about halfway along base shaft 18, approximately mid-way between first end 20 and second end 22 of base shaft 18. Second tip 40 can extend laterally out from the base and can extend perpendicular to base shaft 18. Generally, second tip 40 is removably mounted on base shaft 18 so that it can be readily replaced or removed from hand tool 10 when not needed. Further, second tip 40 will generally have a rectangular shape forming a wedged or razor edge 42 and be oriented so that the wedged edge 42 runs parallel with the base shaft 18. Second tip 40 can be composed of a rigid material, which will not bend during break up of waste but will not scratch the toilet bowl, such as a rigid plastic.

In order to facilitate storage, hand tool 10 can have a base 50, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. Base 50 includes a body 52 defining a cavity 54. An aperture 56 in the top 58 of body 52 allows introduction of hand tool 10 into cavity 54. A first portion 60 of cavity 54 is defined by a first angled wall 62 and two sidewalls 64 and 66. First angled wall 62 declines at an angle to match the angle of base shaft 18 to handle shaft 12, so that handle shaft 12 extends upwardly, typically vertically. Sidewalls 64 and 66 oppose each other and are suitable distance apart to receive base shaft 18.

A second portion 68 of cavity 54 is defined by a vertical wall 70 and two opposing sidewalls 72 and 74. Opposing sidewalls 72 and 74 are generally spaced farther apart than sidewalls 64 and 66. Opposing sidewalls 72 and 74 are typically spaced a suitable distance apart to receive first tip 32. Accordingly, the sidewalls 64 and 66 are joined to sidewalls 72 and 74 by shoulders 76 and 78.

In one embodiment, hand tool 10 is sized to fit in a standard size tank of a toilet. Generally, hand tool 10 will be sized to fit in the tank either with or without base 50. For example, hand tool 10 can have a total length from about 9 inches to about 26 inches. More typically, the total length of hand tool 10 can be from about 10 inches to about 20 inches, or from about 11 inches to about 15 inches. Base 50 can have a height of from about 10 inches to about 20 inches, from about 12 inches to about 16 inches, from about 13 inches to about 16 inches or about 14 inches.

In operation, the hand tool 10 can be introduced into a toilet having a toilet bowl terminating in an s-tube, wherein the toilet bowl contains solid waste. FIG. 7 illustrates a hand tool 10 in operational relation to a typical toilet 80. FIG. 7 is a sectional view, with only relevant bowl passages illustrated for the sake of simplicity of the disclosure.

Toilet 80 comprises an upwardly open bowl 82 having an annular generally horizontal upper rim 84 and side walls 86 that converge downwardly from the underside thereof to a recessed bowl well 88. An outlet or trapway passage 90 connects over an elevated weir dam 92 to an exit passage 94, for directing liquid/waste flow via an exterior drain line to a sewer, septic field or the like (none-being shown). Trapway passage 90, weir dam 92 and exit passage 94 are often referred to as an s-tube. Thus, bowl well 88 serves as a junction between bowl 82 and the s-tube.

A water storage tank 96, typically supported vertically above the bowl 82, provides flush water that can be discharged by gravity via appropriate internal routing passages (not shown) through outlet jets 98 and 100 into the bowl 82. The jets 98 direct flush water through the bowl well 88 for priming flow of water/waste therein over the weir dam 92 and from the toilet via exit passage 94, and the jets 100 underlying the rim 84 direct flush water over the sidewalls 86 for rinsing them.

The weir dam 92 defines the maximum stable height 102 that water can remain in the bowl before leaking over the dam and out the exit passage 94, which height might be 1-3 inches above the top opening of the bowl well 88 and 4-8 inches below the bowl top 104. The trapway passage 90 extends somewhat as a cylindrical bore a short distance horizontally from the bowl well 88 before curving up and over the weir dam 92.

When the toilet is flushed, tank water flows into the bowl from both the jets 98 and 100, priming the water/waste in the bowl well 88 to flow toward the weir dam 92 while the water level in the bowl well 88 will rise above the weir dam 92, whereupon water/waste flow from the exit passage 94 will begin. This flow further can produce a siphoning action of the bowl well water/waste in flowing over the dam effective to substantially empty the bowl well 88 and the suction is broken. Continued flush water flow into the bowl from the jets 100 will rinse the bowl sidewalls 86 and refill the bowl well 88 to the desired stable water level at or below the stable-water height 102.

Commonly, solid waste can cause clogs during flushing, typically in trapway passage 90, at weir dam 92 and/or in exit passage 94, which together form a typical s-tube. In order to prevent and reduce occurrence of such clogs, hand tool 10 is introduced into toilet bowl well 88 and can be at least partially entered into trapway passage 90, as illustrated. Once positioned in toilet bowl well 88, hand tool 10 is used to break up the solid waste by manipulating hand tool 10 so that first tip 32, and second tip 40 (if used), encounters solid waste in toilet bowl well 88 and at least partially into trapway passage 90, which serves as a junction between toilet bowl well 88 and weir dam 92. Thus, solid waste and semi-solid waste is broken up into smaller pieces that are more easy to flush and less likely to cause clogs than the original solid waste. After the solid waste is adequately broken up for flushing, hand tool 10 is removed from the toilet bowl well 88 and the toilet can be flushed.

The above elements of the hand tool as well as others can be seen with reference to the figures. From the above description and figures, it will be seen that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. While the presently preferred embodiment of the apparatus has been shown for the purposes of this disclosure, those skilled in the art may make numerous changes in the arrangement and construction of parts. All of such changes are encompassed within the scope and spirit of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A hand tool for breaking up solid waste in a toilet having a toilet bowl and an s-tube, the tool comprising: a handle shaft having a first end and a second end; a base shaft having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the base shaft is connected to the second end of the handle shaft so that the base shaft is at an angle suitable for reaching into the toilet bowl such that the second end of the base shaft reaches to the junction of the toilet bowl with the s-tube; and a first tip on the second end of the base shaft, wherein the first tip comprises a rigid wing extending laterally out from the second end of the base shaft.
 2. The hand tool of claim 1, further comprising a storage base having: a body defining a cavity with an aperture in a top portion of the body, the aperture configured to allow introduction of the hand tool into the cavity, wherein the body has a first angled wall and two sidewalls with the two sidewalls opposing each other, wherein a first portion of the cavity is defined by the first angled wall and the two sidewalls, and wherein the first angled wall declines at a decline angle to match the angle of the base shaft to the handle shaft so that, when the hand tool is introduced into the cavity, the handle shaft extends upwardly.
 3. The hand tool of claim 1, wherein the rigid wing comprises a pair of opposing rigid wing portions extending laterally out from the base shaft so as to form a hoe-type blade set at an angle of from about 60 degrees to about 120 degrees to the base shaft.
 4. The hand tool of claim 1, further comprising a connector portion configured to receive the second end of the handle shaft and the first end of the base shaft and to hold the base shaft at the angle to the base shaft.
 5. The hand tool of claim 4, wherein the base shaft is at an angle of from about 20 degrees to about 80 degrees to the handle shaft.
 6. The hand tool of claim 1, further comprising: a second tip composed of a rigid material and connected to the base shaft between the first end and the first tip, wherein the second tip extends laterally out from the base shaft and is formed to have a wedged edge.
 7. The hand tool of claim 6, wherein the second tip is oriented so that the wedged edge runs parallel with the base shaft.
 8. The hand tool of claim 7, wherein the ridged wing comprises a pair of opposing rigid wing portions extending laterally out from the base shaft so as to form a hoe-type blade set at an angle of from about 70 degrees to about 110 degrees to the base shaft.
 9. The hand tool of claim 8, wherein the base shaft is at an angle from about 40 degrees to about 50 degrees to the handle shaft.
 10. The hand tool of claim 9, wherein the handle shaft has a hand-gripping portion at the first end of the handle shaft.
 11. The hand tool of claim 10, wherein the handle shaft and base shaft are made of metal, the first tip and second tip are made of rigid plastic, and the hand-gripping portion is flexible plastic, and further comprising a connector portion made of rigid plastic and configured to receive the second end of the handle shaft and the first end of the base shaft and to hold the base shaft at the angle to the base shaft.
 12. A hand tool for breaking up solid waste in a toilet having a toilet bowl and an s-tube, the tool comprising: a shaft having a first end and a second end; wherein said shaft has an angled bend suitable to allow said second end to reach into the toilet bowl such that the second end of the base shaft reaches to the junction of the toilet bowl with the s-tube; and a first tip on the second end of the base shaft, wherein the first tip comprises a rigid wing extending laterally out from the second end of the base shaft, wherein the rigid wing facilities breaking up solid waste.
 13. The hand tool of claim 12, wherein the angled bend is from about 20 degrees to about 80 degrees.
 14. The hand tool of claim 13, wherein the rigid wing comprises a first wing portion and second wing portion opposing the first wing portion so that the first wing portion and second wing portion extend laterally out from the base shaft to form a hoe-type blade set at an angle of from about 60 degrees to about 120 degrees to the base shaft.
 15. The hand tool of claim 14, further comprising: a second tip composed of a rigid material and connected to the shaft between the angled bend and the first tip, wherein the second tip extends laterally out from the shaft and is formed to have a wedged edge.
 16. The hand tool of claim 15, wherein the second tip is oriented so that the wedged edge runs parallel with the base shaft.
 17. The hand tool of claim 16, wherein the shaft is made of metal, and the first tip and second tip are made of rigid plastic.
 18. A process comprising: (a) introducing a hand tool into a toilet having a toilet bowl terminating in an s-tube, wherein the toilet bowl contains solid waste, wherein the hand tool comprises: a shaft having a first end and a second end; wherein said shaft has an angled bend suitable to allow said second end to reach into the toilet bowl such that the second end of the base shaft reaches to the junction of the toilet bowl with the s-tube, wherein the angled bend is from 20 degrees to 80 degrees; and a first tip on the second end of the base shaft, wherein the tip comprises a rigid wing extending laterally out from the second end of the base shaft; and wherein the first tip is introduced into the toilet bowl; (b) breaking up the solid waste by manipulating the hand tool so that the first tip encounters solid waste in the toilet bowl and a junction between the toilet bowl and the s-tube; and (c) after step (b) removing the hand tool from the toilet bowl and flushing the toilet.
 19. The process of claim 18, wherein the shaft comprises: a handle shaft having a first end and a second end; a base shaft having a first end and a second end, and a connector portion made of rigid plastic and configured to receive the second end of the handle shaft and the first end of the base shaft and to hold the base shaft at an angle to the base shaft so as to form the angled bend.
 20. The process of claim 19, wherein the hand tool further comprises: a second tip composed of a rigid material and connected to the base shaft between the first end and the first tip, wherein the second tip extends laterally out from the base shaft and is formed to have a wedged edge so that the wedged edge runs parallel with the base shaft, and wherein the process further comprises manipulating the hand tool so that the second tip encounters solid waste in the toilet bowl and the junction during the step of breaking up the solid waste. 